The Visualized International CIE-Colour Space
The colors of the RAL DESIGN System are organised systematically in Hue, Lightness and Chroma values. Fig. 1 shows the spatial building of the RAL DESIGN System. Following the sequence of the color spectrum, the Hues are organised in a circle. The designations correspond with the angles. Red can be found at 0° (= 360°), yellow at 90°, green at 180° and blue at 270° (fig. 4). The different values of Lightness that are possible within each Hue are arranged in various levels. Fig. 2 shows one of these levels. The non-chromatic axis (fig. 3) runs through its center. This axis is synonymous with the scale for Lightness. The non-chromatic axis starts with 0 at the bottom showing black, followed by continuously lighter greys ending with 100 on top.
The term of Chroma is being illustrated in figures 2 and 3. The Chroma of a color is the intensity of its coloring. It increases gradually starting at the central non-chromatic axis and ending outside. Its value on the axis is zero.
The structure of the RAL DESIGN System is not arbitrary. It follows an internationally used color measurement system laid down by CIE (Commission International d´Eclairage) in 1976. The color distances between the individual colors are defined by the CIELAB-color distance formula. They are also embedded in DIN 6174.
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- Colour Solid of the RAL DESIGN System
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- Colours within Lightness of 50
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- Part of the Colour Solid with Non-Chromatic Axis
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- Schematic Structure of the RAL DESIGN System
